Therapeutic and diagnostic machine



July 26, 1949. R H A 2,477,084

THERAPEUTIC AND DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE Filed 001:. 20. 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

/R vuvq REHMAN.

ATTORNEY July 26, 1949. l. REHMAN THERAPEUTIC AND DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

lR vuvq REHMA N- ATTORNEY I July 26, 1949. 1. REHMAN THERAPEUTIC AND DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 20, 1945 INVENTOR. /R v/Nq REHMA/v. BY

ATTORNEY Patented July 26, 1949 THERAPEUTIC AND DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE Irving Rehman, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of one-fourth to Elberta M. Arnold and onefourth to Edward W. Lowman, both of Corona,

Calif.

Application October 20, 1945, Serial No. 623,535

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to therapeutic apparatus, and more especially to an electrical machine for producing a direct or galvanic current together with an associated condenser discharge current.

Electrical machines for producing direct or alternating currents for therapeutic treatments have been heretofore produced. However, such machines have been found to be unsatisfactory in several respects, particularly in being incapable of producing certain desirable currents. These objections as well as others have been overcome by the present invention which has been developed and perfected for the production of a direct or straight galvanic current of a purer nature than has been found possible to produce by machines as heretofore known, and less painful to the patient.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a therapeutic machine for the production of electrical currents of a true galvanic nature in association with a discharge current from a condenser, or separately therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical unit for producing desired and selected currents adapted to be applied directly to an affected nerve, muscle, or other part of the human body, without affecting other parts thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a therapeutic machine adapted both for testing the affected parts and the treatment thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel, compact, portable machine for producing a true galvanic current for the testing and treatment of nerves, muscles, and other parts of the human body and adapted for the superimposing of a discharge current from a variable condenser on the galvanic current, which superimposed condenser discharge current may be applied periodically or at selected time intervals.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification considered with reference to the accompanying drawings throughout which like parts are designated by like numerals.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a therapeutic machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a separate view of one of the applicator electrodes.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified form of applicator electrode.

Figure 4 is a view of the human hand showing the method of application of the electrodes thereto.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the structure of Figure 1, shown with the front panels and a portion of a side wall removed.

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuits of the unit.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I show an electrical unit comprising a transformer Ill having a primary winding ll supplied through circuit wiring l2 and a plug l3 from a suitable source of alternating current, wiring 12 having a main switch l4 for controlling the operation of the transformer. Transformer It] has a secondary winding l5 for supplying filament current to a rectifier tube IS, the transformer having a secondary I! for providing the alternating current of proper voltage to be rectified by tube l6. Transformer I0 is also provided with a secondary winding l8 for supplying a low voltage for operating a pilot lamp l9 which indicates the operative condition of the transformer.

A conductor 20 is connected to the cathode of tube 16 for supplying the positive rectified voltage and currentfrom winding I1, and a conductor 2| is provided for the negative voltage and current and is connected to a center tap of winding H. A wave filter is provided and includes a choke coil 22 in conductor 20 and a pair of condensers 23 bridged across choke coil 22 and connected to conductor 2|. A potentiometer 24' is connected across conductors 20 and 2i and is provided with a rheostat switch 25 and connected through a volt meter 26 to conductor 2|.

A conductor 21 is connected to switch 25 and conducts the adjusted rectifier voltage and current from potentiometer 24 to terminals 28, 29 and 33 of switches 3|, 33 and 32, switch 3| having a terminal 34, switch 32 having a terminal 35 and switch 33 having a terminal 36, the latter being all connected to a conductor 31.

I show resistors 38 and 39 connected between conductors 31 and 2|, and one or more pairs of terminals 40 connected through a reversing switch 4|, a resistor 42, and a milliammeter 43 across resistor 38.

A motor 44 is provided and through suitable worm gearing 44a and a cam 44b or the equivalent actuates switch 3| by an intermittent closing and opening action. Motor 44 is powered from the alternating current circuit I2 and is controlled by switch l4 and a selector switch 45 having a pair of motor control contacts 46 and a direct or galvanic current pair of contacts 4'1. Thus when switch I4 is closed the actuation of switch 45 to close contacts 46, thereby operating the motor, will cause contacts 41 to be closed, thus interconnecting the movable contact arms of switches 3| and 33.

A conductor 48 is connected to switch arm 33 and to the common bridged plates of'a variable condenser 49, the complementaryplates of which are severally connected to a condenser selector switch 50, the condenser 49 thereby having a steep range varying between .05 and 50 micromay be of the jack type, respective cables have" ing respective electrodes 53, 54,..attheir respective other ends for application 'toth'ehand, arm, leg or other part of the bddyofatpersohrto be treated. V

The unit comprising my invention is suitably mounted in a cabinet or casing 55 having a suit- 4. I have found by extensive use and numerous tests that this current is muchless-painfulto a patient being treated than has been possible with the use of apparatus as heretofore known and con- 'structed, being a smoother current and substantially free of alternating current ripple. Whenable handle 56 for portabilityand having a front j panel 51 on which the instruments and switches are mounted, which panel may be inclined, if desired, to permit easy manipulation of the switches and reading of'the meter dials." A separate panel 58 may be provided for terminals 40, and ventilating louvrs 59 may be provided in end walls 60' or elsewhere if desired. A suitable receptacle for an extension power cord plug and a fuse block may be provided in the rear wall of cabinet 55 as will bemanifest. 1

.Thebperation, purposes and objectives of my invention should be apparent from the foregoing description[ Transformer I0 is energized by'the plugging of plug l3 into a suitable socket connected to a, source, of alternating current and the closing of main switch l4. Transformer winding supplies heater current to the filament of rectifier tube It, and the power winding 1 I of transformer Ill connected to the plates of tube 16 and conductors 20 and 2| provides a rectified alternating current which is now'arpulsating full wave direct or galvanic current. The wave form of the current is smoothed out by the filter comprising choke coil 22 and filter'conden'sers 23 and the resulting current'is therefore a, pure galvanic or direct current:

Assuming switch'33 is in the mid or off position, this galvanic current can be applied at any desired "voltage, by the adjustment of potentiometer 24 and rheostat 25, to the electrodes 40 through conductor 31 by the closing of manual switch 32,- the values of the voltage and current being read on voltmeter 2-5 and'milliammeter 43 respectively. i 1

Condenser 49 can be charged from the galvanic current manually by throwing switch 33 to switch terminal 29, it being seen that the current then flows through conductor 21, switch 33 and conductor 48 into condenser 49,- the value of the charge being variably determined by the position of selector switch 50 connected to the various condenser units varying between .05 and 50 microfarads. Condenser 49 may now be manually discharged through the electrode circuit including terminals 40 by throwing'switch 33 into contact with terminal 36 thereof.

When it is desired to apply a pulsating galvanic current to the electrodes and terminals 40, switch 33 is turned into off position, and'motor 44 is started'by the operation of selector switch 45 to closed position, which operation interconnects contacts 46 closing the motor circuit, and closing contacts 41 which connect condenser 49 through conductor 48 to the arm of switch 3|. Motor 44 periodically moves switch arm 3! from contact 28 to contact 34, thus alternatingly charging the condenser and discharging it through the electrode circuit. .It-will therefore be seen that the electrode current is a direct rectified current having a superimposed condenser discharge current.

may, if desired, be delivered to the electrodes with or Without the rectified current per se.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most'pra'ctical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not 'to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded'the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.'In a therapeutic machine, a source of alternating current, a full wave rectifier connected to said alternating current adapted to supply pulsating direct current, a filter in said pulsating direct current circuit, a bank of storage condensers connected in parallel having a selective switch adapted to selectively connect individual condensers, an electric motor connected .to said original source of power, electrodes adapted to apply current to a-patient being treated, and switching means adapted to selectively apply rectified currents or condenser discharge currents or rectified current and condenser discharge current to said electrodes, said electric motor being adapted to control said switching, means to pcriodically connect and disconnect said switching means. I

2. In a therapeutiemachine, a sourc of electric power, a full wave rectifier connected to said source of power adapted to supply rectified cur-. rent, a-filter in said rectified current circuit, 'a potentiometer in said circuit, a plurality of condensers of varying capacities connected in parallel having a, selective switch adapted to' selectively connect individual condensers, an'electric motor connected to said original source of power, electrodes adapted to apply current to a patient being treated, and switching means adapted to selectively. connect said electrodes to said pulsating current or condenser discharge currents or rectified current and condenser discharge cur,- rent, said electric motor being adapted to control said switching means to periodically connect and disconnect said switching means.

IRVING REHMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,764,347 Pullwitt June 17, 1930 1,908,688 Call May 16, 1933 1,945,867 Rawls Feb. 6, 1934 2,179,105 Sidney Nov. 7, 1939 2,311,935 Dobert Feb. 23, 1943 2,327,268 Jenks Aug. 17, 1943 

